1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

Office of Light-House Engineer,

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT,

Portland, Oregon, Nov.??? 30th, 1874.???

To the Chairman of the L. H. Board Washington D.C.

Sir;

I have the honor to transmit herewith a communication from R. A. Bensell, Custodian of Yaquina (discontinued) light station reporting the condition of the building and asking for repairs.

I endeavored to sell this station at auction about a year and a half since, but the highest bid was only six hundred dollars and as the Govt. paid $500.00 for the land and expended about $15000.00 on the buildings I withdrew it deeming the The price offered too little.

Office of Light-House Engineer, Thirteenth district, Portland, Oregon, ??? 187

A railroad is now in process of construction from Corvallis Oregon on the Willamette River to Yaquina bay and it is probable that a harbor light may be required at no??? distant day. If the board desires to keep up the buildings, extensive repairs will be needed, and the estimate of W. Bensell should be at least doubled, that is should be $300.00; the expense of getting lumber from San Francisco to the station will be large compared to other places.

I make no recommendation in this case, not knowing whether

Office of Light-House Engineer, Thirteenth district, 297 Portland, Oregon, , 187 .

the Board desires to spend money upon a discontinued station, but if it is the wish of the Board that the buildings should be kept in repair then the work should be done at once.

I had a good deal of trouble to find anyone who would even live in the house without a salary, but finally W. Bensell, who is a member of the Oregon legislature agreed to do as I have furnished him occasionally a little Paint and window glass.

I am Sir??? very reply. ??? John M. Nilson ???

Light-House Establishment, Office of the Light-House Inspector, Thirteenth District Inclosures. Portland, Oregon, 20 September, 1898.

Subject:

The Light-House Board, Washington, D. C.

Sirs:

Referring to the Board's letter of the 15th. instant regarding the statement in the case of the Second Assistant Keeper Harry S. Littlefield of Yaquina Head Light Station.

I have to state that the Keeper informed me at the time of my inspection of that Station that Littlefield was physically unable to perform his duties. Littlefield told me that the Keeper's statement was true, that he found it difficult to perform his duties, and that he wished to resign.

His resignation was forwarded to the Board on the 18 August, '98, the acceptance of which I recommended.

Respectfully,

signature???

Commander, U. S. N., Light-house Inspector.

United States Engineer Office Portland, Oregon, Dec. 17, 1887.

The Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Washington, D.C.

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report as to the present status of Yaquina Harbor, and as to whether the harbor improvements have been completed, and warranted the establishment of a light there. Yaquina Bay affords ample harbor accommodation; but at present vessels of deep draught cannot enter, as there is only about 12 feet depth of water over the bar, in the deepest channel, at low-water. The average range of tide is about 7 feet. There is little or nothing in the way of local resources to build up a commerce of any extent; but as an outlet to an important railroad, the harbor is rapidly growing in importance. Its future growth will depend much upon the improvement of the entrance to the harbor, and also upon the extension of the railroad to a connection with a trans continental line. At present, almost the only vessels entering and leaving the port are the passenger steamers running from Yaquina City to San Francisco. A jetty nearly 3,000 feet long has been constructed by the government, on the south side of the entrance. The results thus